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Ted Bolte 鈥�21 was attracted to VUnited from the moment he heard its mission: enhancing the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities and introducing them to a college experience with social and academic components.

Under Ted鈥檚 leadership as student director, a team of more than 40 棉花糖直播 students forged ahead over the past year when COVID-19 threatened to put their efforts on pause. In fact, the student-run organization鈥攁long with mentor Steve McWilliams, PhD, MFA, 鈥�92 MA, director of Disability Services鈥攚as recognized in the midst of it, receiving the One Body in Christ award in April 2021 from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for its 鈥渋nnovative, inclusive programing.鈥�

鈥淎nything can be accomplished when you are working with a great group of people,鈥� says Ted. 鈥淰United being able to not only survive, but thrive, during the pandemic is a testament to that.鈥�

In fall 2020, Ted recruited VUnited鈥檚 first virtual cohort鈥�15 students from the local community, all high school graduates over the age of 18. 鈥淰United wants to provide opportunities for these students to engage in the community, and we know the opportunities available decrease tremendously following the completion of high school,鈥� Ted explains.

Refusing to let the pandemic take this opportunity away, VUnited took its seven-week life skills program online each Saturday morning. They delivered the same academic modules aimed at enhancing the students鈥� independence and job skill preparation while also maintaining the mentorship component and relationship building that is such a crucial part of the program. 鈥淔or those two hours, everything felt almost normal again,鈥� Ted says. 鈥淚t was a feeling of togetherness, which everyone needed more than ever during the pandemic.鈥�